How to celebrate Easter on a budget

It can feel like just when you’ve survived Christmas, New Years and Valentine’s Day, another holiday sneaks up on you out of nowhere — Easter! While Easter might not be quite as expensive at Christmas, the chocolate, decorations and food can quickly add up if you’re trying to be frugal. The good news is, having a fun and memorable Easter doesn’t have to break the bank. Read on for 7 wallet-friendly hacks for celebrating Easter on a budget.

1. Decorate your own eggs

While we tend to associate modern-day Easter with chocolate eggs, the tradition actually began with good old hen’s eggs! In fact, in many cultures like Germany, decorating eggs is still an extremely important part of Easter celebrations. This cheap and creative tradition could be egg-xactly what you need to have a memorable Easter on a budget. Grab some eggs from the supermarket and hard-boil them. Then, dip them in food dye to start making some colourful creations. You can even take your Easter egg decorating to the next level by tye-dying them, adding cute decorations like stickers or monogramming them with your family member’s names. The sky’s the limit!

2. Buy in bulk

It can be tricky when everyone in your family has their own specific preferences for chocolate. Maybe your daughter is crazy for white chocolate, while your partner is all about the honeycomb. But buying individual chocolates for everyone can quickly add up! The good news is, many supermarkets have specials where you can get two or so packets for the price of one, or assorted mixes of a few different types of chocolates. So, make sure you scope out the labels to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal. You can also take advantage of discounts the day after Easter and stock up on some slashed-price chocolates for next year. When kept properly, solid chocolate can last often a year (well, as long as someone doesn’t eat it first!)

3. Have an Easter Egg hunt

An Easter egg hunt is a fun and inexpensive activity for kids and adults alike. This is where you hide chocolate or decorated eggs and other items throughout the house and garden, and players have to race to find them. You don’t have to go overboard on buying prizes for this either.

4. DIY your decorations

Not only is making your own Easter decorations kinder to your wallet, it’s also a fun activity to get the kids involved with. Some fun Easter decorations you could make at home include an Easter egg basket, cute bunny ears made out of rope or hanging Easter egg ornaments. You can find endless inspiration for Easter DIY decorations on Pinterest and grab your supplies from your supermarket or craft store.

5. Keep your feast simple

Whether you do the traditional dinner or are more of a lunch bunch, food is often the main event on Easter. And thankfully, you don’t have to spend hours slaving away in the kitchen to put on a delicious and delightful Easter feast. The most important thing is sitting down and enjoying your food with your loved ones. So, why not keep it simple by grabbing a pre-marinated lamb (the traditional food of Easter) from your supermarket and popping it in the oven? Add in a few sides like roast vegetables and potatoes and you’re all set!

6. Plant something

Easter is the celebration of new life. So, why not embrace that by planting some seedlings in the garden? From colourful fruits and veggies to fresh herbs and beautiful flowers, you can find a wide range of seeds for just a few dollars at your local supermarket or grocer. It’s a great way to get the whole family involved, get outside and get your hands dirty. Plus, you’ll get to harvest these throughout the year. Maybe some of them will even feature in your Easter feast next year!

7. Bake your own hot cross buns

No Easter would be complete without hot cross buns! While these are generally pretty inexpensive to buy from your local supermarket (especially if you get in early!) you can also make your own at home. You’ll just need milk, plain flour, eggs, sugar, mixed spice, dried yeast and butter — plus, your preference for filling, whether that’s chocolate or raisins. Not only is this a cost-effective way to get your hot cross buns, you’ll have the scent of warm cinnamon wafting through your kitchen.

By following the tips on this list, you can celebrate Easter on a budget without sacrificing any fun or festivities.

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